Updates on Loblaw Companies, Manitoba Telecom Services and Bank of Nova Scotia

Article Excerpt

LOBLAW COMPANIES $30.41 (Toronto symbol L; SI Rating: Above average) now feels it will take several months longer before it starts to realize the benefits of its current restructuring plan. That’s because of increasing price competition. In the three months ended June 14, 2008, earnings per share improved 18.6%, to $0.51 from $0.43 a year earlier. However, if you exclude unusual items, per-share earnings fell 23.2%, to $0.45 from $0.59. Sales rose 1.4%, to $7.0 billion from $6.9 billion. Same-store sales rose 0.7%. Loblaw continues to re-model older stores, improve its distribution systems and rejuvenate its private label products. These initiatives should help it maintain its leading market share. However, the stock will remain under pressure until earnings improve. It now trades at 16.1 times its projected 2008 earnings of $1.80 a share. The $0.84 dividend appears safe, and yields 2.5%. Loblaw is still a hold. MANITOBA TELECOM SERVICES $40.73 (Toronto symbol MBT; SI Rating: Average) recently bid $41 million for new wireless frequencies in…